It’s Christmas Eve, and I thought you might appreciate an update on the “war on Christmas.”

To be honest, things have been kind of quiet this year – too quiet. It seems to me that not a creature is stirring – not even a mouse!

Sure, we had that business in Florida with the Satanic Temple. As you might recall, the rotunda of the State Capitol played host to a privately sponsored nativity scene and other religious messages (including a depiction of the Flying Spaghetti Monster), so Americans United helped the Satanic Temple win a spot for its display too. Read more

A church that tried to argue the First Amendment shields it from being hauled into any U.S. court just got hit with a $1.9 million judgment after a jury ruled it had discriminated against a former Catholic school teacher who sought in vitro fertilization (IVF). Read more

Another day, another phony outrage from the Religious Right. This time, the Family Research Council (FRC) and the American Family Association (AFA) are claiming that a U.S. Army chaplain was punished for simply sharing his faith at an official event. But as usual, these fundamentalists aren’t telling the whole story.

Last month, Chaplain Joseph Lawhorn, a captain and the official chaplain of the 5th Ranger Training Battalion, conducted a session on suicide prevention at Fort Benning in Georgia. Attendance at the event was mandatory, giving Lawhorn a large, captive audience. Read more

A new report by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) identifies atheists, agnostics and other non-theists as a “target minority” for persecution. This global crackdown is occurring concurrently with a rise in the number of non-theists; according to the report, a full 13 percent of the world’s population now identifies as atheist, with another 23 percent identifying as non-religious. Read more

If a Mississippi pastor who recently “married” his horse is the best argument the Religious Right has left for halting the spread of same-sex marriage, it’s safe to say this battle is just about over.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves struck down Mississippi’s same-sex marriage ban. But that case remains under appeal, so gay marriages in the state are on hold pending the final outcome of the legal challenge. Read more

Ohio’s public schools are now eligible for a publicly funded mentorship program – but only if they partner with houses of worship and religious charities. Gov. John Kasich (R) recently announced the requirement as a surprise addition to HB 483, which allocated $10 million for the “Community Connectors” program and originally described faith-based partnerships as an option, rather than a mandate, for schools.Read more

"Reclaiming December" will be the topic presented by panelists Paul McCraw, Fleming El-Amin, Wilda Spalding, and Barry Geller at the Triad AU Chapter event on Tuesday, December 16, at the Polo Recreation Center, from 7:00-8:30 PM.

During the weeks following Thanksgiving, the commercial exploitation of Christmas is relentless and inescapable. Many Americans, including Christians, end up feeling disrespected, and our rich cultural heritage gets lost amidst a plethora of Christmas trees, Santa Clauses, and midnight bargains. Read more